Russia has always been a European power, both culturally and economically Russia is closer to Europe than to China, former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing believes

Former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing

MOSCOW, August 25. /TASS/. Russia is the main trade and economic partner of the European countries, and despite political tensions in relations between Russia and the European Union their close cooperation will continue, former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing told the Rossiya-24 TV channel.

"Russia has always been a European power. Both culturally and economically Russia is closer to Europe than to China. But, in my opinion, the closest partnership will exist between Russia and Europe," the politician noted.

"Russia must have a special status in Europe, close to the EU member-countries, because of its geographical location. That means that Europe of 28 [member states] should have Russia as its major partner," Giscard d'Estaing said.